Steering-gear.



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UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE.

DAVID M. BEARING, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF CNE-HALF TO LOUIS F.BOOS,

OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

STEERING-GEAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 19, 1907.

Application filed February 19 1906i Serial No. 301,892. Renewed April l,1907. Serial No. 365858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID M. DEARING, a citizen of the United States,residing at Jackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steering-Gears gand I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to `which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in steering gears for automobilesand other vchicles.

The object of the invention is to provide a steering gear of thischaracter, of simple, light, strong and durable construction, which willb`e effective in operation.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists ofcertain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement ofparts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the laccompanying drawings,-Figure 1 vis a plan view of the forwardportion of a motor vehicle, with my improved steering gear mountedthereon; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same Fig. 3 is a verticallongitudinal sec-tional view, taken on the plane indicated by the line3-3 in Fig. 1 and Fig. 4

is a detail vertical transverse sectional view, taken on the planeindicated by the line 4 4 in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings by numeral, 1 denotes the forward portion of arunning gear frame of any form and construction, but which, as shown,consists of converging longitudinal side beams 2 of I-shape incrosssection, connected at their forward ends with the ends of asimilar-shaped cross beam 3, by means of angle plates 4. The plates orstraps 4 are riveted, bolted or otherwise secured to the inner faces ofthe webs of the said beams between their upper and lower flanges, asshown. -To the outer or front face of the web of the front cross beam 3is bolted or otherwise secured the enlarged rear end 5 of a union 6, tothe forward end 7 of which is connected a reach bar or tube' S. Theunion 6 is preferably in the form of a casting, which has in its upperface a recess or cavity 9, and upon its forwardly-tapered end thereduced portion or stem 7, which projects into the bore of or the socketin the reach bar or tube 8, and is secured therein. by bolts or thelike, 10. In the forward end of the reach bar 8 is rotatably mounted acushioning or pivoting device 11 for the front steering axle 12. Thisdevice 11 comprises a yoke or bracket 18, 'formed with arearwar(ily-projecting end or stem 14, which rotates in the bore oropening in the forward end of the bar S, and which is retained thereinby a pin er the like, 15. Said pin is screwed or otherwise secured inthe end 14 of the yoke and projects into a transverse slot 16, formed inthe forward end of the reach bar S. This eonstructimi retains the deviceupon the reach bar, and permits it to rotate slightly therein to allowthe axle 12 to swing or tilt in a transverse vertical plane. The forwardend of the yoke 13 is forked or bifurcated to form upper and lower arms17, which are formed with alining apertures to receive pivot and guidepins 1S, the latter projecting in opposite directions from upper and4lower clamping plates 19, which have recesses in their opposite faces toreceive the axle 12, and which are formed withattaching 'flanges 21,adapted to be bolted or riveted together to clamp the guide upon theaxle, so that its pins 18 extend vertically.

Confined between the under face of the upper arm 17 of the yoke, and theattachingl plate of the upper guide -pin 1S is a coil spring 23, whichsurrounds said pin, as shown, and between the under face of the lowerarm 17 and a stop 25 upon the lower end of the lower pin 1S, is asimilar coil spring 26. The stop 25 is preferably in the form of awasher and a nut, and a similar stop 27 maybe provided upon the upperend of the upper pin 18, as shown. These springs 23, 26, cushion oryieldably support the running gear from the axle, while the guide pins1S serve as a kingbolt to permit the axle to swing in a horizontal planefor the purpose of steering the vehicle. The steering of the vehicle iseffected by providing a semi-circular steering bar 28, which also servesas a hound for the front axle. This bar 2S is preferably in the form ofan I-shaped beam bent into a semi-circle, which is concentric with thepivot and guide pins 18, and which has its ends secured by clips 29tothe axle 12, as shown. The connections between the end of said bar andsaid clip admit of slight vertical play of the bar. The central portionof the semi-circular ba'r 28 projects and slides through the recess 9 inthe Linien or casting 6, and is guided by a vertically-disposed roller8O and a pair 4of horizontally-disposed rollers 3l. These rollers aresuitably journaled in the recess 9, the vertical one engaging the bottomof the bar 28, and the two horizontal ones engaging the opposite facesof the vertical web of the bar, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The steeringbar 28 is operated by rotating a hand-wheel 32 upon the upper end of a'forwardly and downwardly-inclined shaft 33, which has its lower endjournaled in bearings 34 and 35, provided upon the front and rear end ofthe union or casting 6, as shown. Upon said end of the shaft 33 issecured a beveled pinion 36,

which meshes with a segmental rack plate 37 upon the top of thesemi-circular bar 28. This plate 37 is secured by pins, bolts, rivets orthe like, 38, upon said bar, and has cut in its upper face beveled rackteeth 39. The rollers 30, 3l and the beveled pinion admit of the slightangular vertical motion of the curved bar 28, required to enable saidbar to convenience itself to the vertical movement of the front end ofthe frame with respect to the front axle, under the play of the springs23, 26.

The construction, operation and advantages of my improved steering gearwill be readily seen. By mounting the front axle 12 in the cushioningand pivoting device 1l, so that the latter turns axially to a slightextent, and the former swings horizontally, and by providing thesemi-circular steering bar 28, which serves also as a hound, a verysimple and light construction is provided, which will be strong, durableand inexpensive. The provision of the guide rollers in the union orcasting guide and support the bar 28, and at the same timepermit it totilt slightly when the device 11 turns on its axis.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the principle orsacrificing any of the advantages of this invention, as defined bytheappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters-Patent, is,-

1. A vsteering gear for vehicles comprising a frame having a reach barthereon, a front steering axle, a pivoting and. cushioning device forsaid axle upon the front of said reach bar, a guide, and a semi-circularbar engaged 'with said guide and having its ends connected to said axleat equi-distant points from its pivot.

2. A steering gear for vehicles comprising a reach frame or bar, a frontaxle, a cushioning and pivoting device for said axle rotatable in theforward end of said reach bar or frame, a roller upon the latter, and asemicircular steering bar engaged with said roller and having its endsattached to said axle,

substantially as described. y

3. A steering gear for vehicles comprising a frame, a union attached tothe forward end of the same, a reach bar attached to the forward end ofsaid union, a front axle, a cushioning and pivoting device for saidaxle, rotatably mounted in the forward end of said reach bar, guiderollers mounted in a recess in said union, a semi-circular bar engagedwith said guide rollers and having its ends attached to said axle, and arack platesecured upon the upper face of saidl bar, substantially asshown and described.

4. A steering gear for vehicles comprising a frame, a reach bar, a unionconnected to the latter and said frame, a front axle pivotally mountedupon the forward end of said reach bar, a guide in said union, asemi-circular bar engagedwith said guide and having itsy ends attachedto said axle, rack teeth upon the upper face of said bar, a shaftjournaled in bearings upon said union, and a toothed gear upon saidshaft and engaged with said rack teeth, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

DAVID M. DEARING.

Witnesses:

.CHRISTIE A. STEARNS,

FRANK 'EGGLEsToN-

